Two of the amendments would forever enshrine in North Carolina’s constitution our state’s right to work for less law and the ban on public employee collective bargaining. The third amendment would attempt to outlaw card check. You can read the text of H.B. 6 for yourself (opens PDF).

“Today Speaker Tillis and Republican legislators made clear their allegiance to Big Business and corporate campaign donors,” responded state AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer MaryBe McMillan in a statement. “They filed bills not only to gut unemployment benefits but also to include three anti-worker amendments in our state constitution.”

“North Carolina already has a right to work law and a ban on public sector collective bargaining. States that have passed amendments related to secret ballot union elections now face lawsuits and legal expenses. These amendments are a ridiculous waste of taxpayers’ time and money. Legislative leaders should instead focus resources on job creation and economic growth. North Carolinians need jobs not ballots full of unnecessary amendments designed to turn out conservative voters and generate more corporate campaign contributions.” — MaryBe McMillan, 1/30/2013

“Right to Work” does wrong by North Carolina workers

“Right to work” (RTW) laws have been on the books in North Carolina for decades, but lawmakers are now pushing to enshrine this status in the state’s constitution. Proponents of RTW laws argue they spur economic growth. Yet, research shows that in states where the laws exist, including North Carolina, RTW laws do not create jobs; rather, they lower wages and undermine the middle class.

“Research demonstrates that increased union membership leads to higher wages—for both union members and non-union members—and greater access to benefits such as health insurance and pensions. Such increases in income and the benefits that ensure financial stability for working families strengthen the middle class and local economies.”

For more information about why “Right to Work” is wrong for North Carolina’s workers and economy, read the full NC Justice Center issue brief (link opens PDF).

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Constitution is no place to enshrine Jim Crow-era ban

North Carolina has forbidden state agencies and local governments from entering into collective bargaining agreements with their employees since 1959. The ban, G.S. 95-98, was “spurred by fears of union corruption, communism, and (gasp) black and white people organizing together for better jobs and higher wages,” says David Zonderman, professor of history at North Carolina State University.

In 2007, the International Labour Organization (ILO) of the United Nations found North Carolina’s bargaining ban to be in direct violation of the United States’ treaty obligations to ensure “the effective recognition of the right of collective bargaining throughout the country’s territory.”

Instead of lifting the ban, by putting it up for inclusion in North Carolina’s constitution, our current out-of-control legislature is making it so that a future General Assembly will never be able to decide to grant state agencies and localities the option to contract with their employees or give public workers – including police, firefighters, and teachers – the same right and freedom to bargain as workers have at Walmart and McDonald’s.

[…] Liz Shuler is the highest-ranking woman leader in the AFL-CIO’s history, and the youngest elected officer ever to sit on its Executive Council. As the college-educated child of a union family, a veteran of efforts to help clerical workers organize, and a labor-community coalition builder, she brings a fresh perspective to the nation’s labor movement, now under attack in a way not seen since the 1920′s – including by our state legislature which recently introduced three anti-union constitutional amendments. […]

[…] the middle class reverse its declining slice of the national income pie. Shuler said a proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine “right-to-work” for less in our state constitution is a mistake, explaining […]

[…] House Speaker Thom Tillis within hours of convening the current legislative session, would add three anti-union amendments to North Carolina’s constitution, making permanent “right to work” for less and […]

Weren’t these politicians voted into office by their human, not corporate, constituants?when did ” we the people” become “we the incorporated”? Taking liberties with our rights to fund corporate stockholders somehow seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Not enough good paying jobs means less potential employees because people have to go elsewhere for the jobs. Less good paying jobs means less folks having children, no money-no food for kids. Back in the day paying peanuts meant nothing. Our ancestors popped kids out like crazy. This new crop has gotten smart, no money means no kids. College loans, crazy high rents for crazy nasty digs, etc. No kids…..less future employees for the corporations taking advantage of their employees. Less political pull for politicians because they will have been voted out of office if not shot first. Less good paying jobs, less qualified graduates from college to fill those that are available. Why, because with decreasing opportunities and pay offered by the corporate nation less people go on to college because they are already learning that college is costing way too much for what employers are willing to pay. Can’t pay back student loans, and have a decent place to live, a reliable vehicle, some kind of social life, spouse and kids.

So, lower pay to increase profit margins for stockholders. Where are those stockholders when times are difficult in corporate nation? Less pay equals fewer potential employees for reasons listed above. And less educated because while pay takes a nosedive education expenses skyrocket. Why, because boards of directors, college ceo’s and stockholders never fail to reap the rewards of frugal corporate spending. And like I’ve already pointed out, this generation is not gullible. Bringing children into this economic climate has become a responsibility, not a right! No kids, no employees, no profits, no companies.

Send the work elsewhere like they have been already doing and there are less people able to purchase your product or service here in the US. Of course that really is of no consequence because corporate nation is actually global corporate nation. Sales drop here, no worries. China is blooming like a rose. I hear India is becoming a large country of hungry consumers. Whatever. Don’t pay us, we can’t buy. No money no kids. No kids and sooner or later (I’m banking on sooner) there are less taxes to be collected to maintain our gov’t and way of life. Etc,etc,etc. I don’t think I’ve missed much. If I have, please feel free to fill in the blanks. Peace

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The North Carolina State AFL-CIO is the largest association of local unions and union councils in North Carolina, representing over one-hundred and forty-thousand union members, fighting for good jobs, safe workplaces, workers’ rights, consumer protections, and quality public services on behalf of ALL working people.